The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alarm over the growing global cancer burden, warning that annual new cancer cases could reach 35 million by 2050 if urgent action is not taken.
In its Global Status Report on Cancer 2026, jointly developed with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the WHO said cancer currently claims more than 26,000 lives every day, with approximately 20.6 million new cases recorded annually worldwide.
The report called for a people-centred approach that prioritises the health needs and experiences of people affected by cancer, while highlighting persistent inequalities in access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care.
According to the report, 87 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer in high-income countries survive for at least five years, compared to only 42 per cent in low-income countries.
It also revealed that fewer than one-third of countries have integrated comprehensive cancer care into their universal health coverage systems. WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said cancer survival should never depend on where a person is born or their income level.
“Cancer survival should never depend on where someone is born or how much they earn. The disparities highlighted in this report are the result of policy choices, and they can be reversed through coordinated action,” he said.
Tedros noted that most people would either experience cancer themselves or have a close family member affected during their lifetime, describing the disease as one of the world’s most financially and socially devastating illnesses.
The WHO’s first global survey on cancer also found that at least 45 per cent of people affected by cancer suffered financial hardship, while more than half reported mental health challenges. Caregivers were also found to experience significant emotional strain.
Regionally, Asia accounted for more than half of global cancer cases in 2024, while Europe contributed 21 per cent of cases and 20 per cent of cancer deaths despite its relatively smaller population.
The report noted that many countries in Africa and parts of Asia recorded lower cancer incidence but higher mortality rates, largely due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to treatment. It identified lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, while prostate, colorectal, and breast cancers remain among the most common forms of the disease.
WHO estimated that nearly four out of every 10 cancer cases are linked to preventable risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, obesity, infections, and physical inactivity.
IARC Director, Dr. Elisabete Weiderpass, warned that global progress against cancer remains too slow despite some improvements. She said rising obesity, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and air pollution are increasingly driving the global cancer burden.
The report, however, highlighted encouraging progress, including a 27 per cent decline in global tobacco use since 2010 and an increase in the number of countries implementing national cancer control plans from 50 per cent to 82 per cent.
Despite these gains, the WHO said access to essential cancer medicines remains limited in many low- and lower-middle-income countries, urging governments and development partners to strengthen universal health coverage and ensure equitable access to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
